Expansion coupling device



Deg. 17, 1929. D. MARINSKY axrmsxou courmne nnvxcm Filed Oct. 6, 1927 VENTOR 041/65 &Mm537 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES DAVIS MARINSKY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPANSION COUPLING DEVICE Application filed October 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,348.

This invention relates to coupling devices and particularly what may be termed expansion devices of this type; and the object of the invention is to provide a device for use in coupling two or more straps, strands or bodies of any kind or class in such manner as to permit of a yielding or resilient move ment of said straps or other bodies relatively to each other to compensate for expansion and contraction of a member contained within the boundaries of such straps or bodies; a further object being to provide a device of the class described comprising two parts with which the straps or other bodies are adapted to be coupled, a coiled spring member in operative connection with said parts and normally serving to hold them in juxtaposition and permitting the separation of said parts by the winding up of said coil spring and placing the same under increased tension; a still further object being to provide means for pivotally coupling said parts together, said coil spring being mounted on the pivot of said parts; a still further object being to provide means associated with the spring of the device for forming an enclosure therefor and also to provide means for limiting the winding of the spring by the parts movably coupled therewith; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

I The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are desigmated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an overshoe showing one of my improved devices mount- 'od in connection therewith. 1

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail View of a part of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a side, edge and sectional view of one of my improved coupling devices.

Fig. 5 is a face view of a modified form of device which I employ, part of the construc tion being broken away and in section.

Fig. 6 is a side, edge view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, partly in section; and,

Fig. 7 is a detail, planview, showing another modified form of construction. I

For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention or one method of carrying it into effect, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 r of the drawing, an overshoe or galosh 10. With devices of this type, it is commonly experienced that the fit of the shoe or galosh around the ankle of the wearer cannot be made to suit the varying sizes of the ankle in a shoe of a given size, to effect a positive closure of the shoe about the ankle and around the leg, to prevent rain, snow, sleet and the like from passing down between the shoe and the body of the wearer. It is also to be borne in mind that it is not practical to provide a tight and non-yielding fit of the upper portion of the overshoe or galosh, in that the same must yield with the body of the wearer in the use thereof. To accomplish the desired result, and to disclose one of the I distinctive uses of my invention, I employ in connection with the upper part of the shoe or galosh 10, one of my improved coupling devices 11.

As seen in Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive, the device 11 consists of two parts 12 and 13 having tubular portions 12*, and 13 at one side and elongated apertures 12 and 13 at the other side. One end of each of the parts 12 and 13 is extended in curved members 14 and 15 which overlap and are pivoted together bya pin 16, the free end of which carries a circular or box-shaped member 17, and the rear end of which is represented as seen at 18. Freely mounted on the pin 16, within the box-shaped member 17 is a coil spring 19, one end 20 of which is extended, and passes into and operates freely in the tube 12 while the other end 21 of said spring crosses the end 20, and extends upwardly into and is freely movable in the tube 13*. The ends 20 and 21 form guide fingers which couple the parts 12 and 13 to the spring, and said ends pass through a large aperture 22, partially encircling the periphery of the box-shaped member 17 and the circumferential width of the aperture 22 serves to limit and check the separation movement of the ends 20 and 21, and the parts 12 and 13 carried thereby.

In attaching the device 11 to the shoe 10, one strap member 23 is secured to one or the side flaps 2 1at the upper end of the shoe and to the part 12 of the device by looping the end of said strap through the aperture 12 and stitching the same as seen at 25. Another strap member 26 is secured to the .part 13 by looping one end 01 the strap through the aperture 13 and stitching the same as seen at 27, the free end of the strap 26 carrying one part 28 of a snap fastening device adapted to-engag-e either one of two parts 29-secured to the other side flap 30 of the shoe at the upper end portion thereof.

In the construction shown, the upper end of thes'hoe'1'2 is provided with a turned down collar part 31, which encloses the device 29 and the ends of the straps and '26. The flaps 24 and 30-are joined by a fold-able tongue portion or closure member '32 in the manner of'other shoes of this type. I-Ieretofore, it has been customary to jointhe flaps 24; and 30 by buckles, lacings or other types of coupling members which have provided a rigid and non-yielding attachment and closure for the shoe. But, with my improved coupling de- Vice, when the shoe is mounted upon the wearer, the parts 12 and 13 will flex and yield laterally under thewindingof the spring 19 to a degree compensating for the size of the ankle or leg of the wearer to provide for the snug fitting of the upper end portion of the shoe about the ankle or leg of the wearer, and will also permit of further expansion of said parts 12 and 13 in the use of the device when the shoe is mounted upon the body of the wearer and in the operation of walkin wherein the upper end portion otthe shoe is subjected to expansion and contraction, it being understood that my improved coupling will expandunder tension or yield to the expansion stress compensating for any contraction that may exist.

.Itwillbe understood that the parts 12 and 13 may be constructed to expand an inch, inch and a half, two inches or more, depending upon the size and construction of the device. It will also be understood that two or more of the devices may be employed in a single article, such for example as on hip boots where a greater expansion would be desirable, and many uses of the device may be made where a compensatin size adjusting is required, or expansion and contraction compensated for, such as waist encircling members and similar devices, it being understood that the single use herein disclosed is merely illustrative of one of the many uses of my invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, Ihave shown a slight modification wherein the parts 12 and 13 are not provided with extending members 1% and 15. In this construction, a coil spring is enclosed in a tubular body 34 having a pin 35 transversing its axis and an opening 36 through which the ends 37 and 38 of the spring pass and in which said ends operate.

The spring ends 37 and 38 form mounting pins, similar to the pins 20 and 21, which extend into the tubes 12 and 13 of the parts 12 and 13 and are provided with onset portions 39 and d0 respectively, which engage apertures i1 and 12 in the tubes 12 and 13 to prevent the accidental displacement of the parts, and yet permitting sufiicient clearance to provide for slight movement of the pins 37 and 33 longitudinally of said tubes;

It will be understood that in this form of construction, as well as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to a inclusive, that as the parts 12 and 13 are separated andbrought together, the pins 37 and 38, and 20 and 21 move longitudinally oi the tubes 12 and 13.

Aside from the modified structure above described, the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 will operate in the same manner as the device shown in Figs. 1 to 1- inclusive, it being understood that the oil'sets 39 and 40 are employed solely for the purpose of coupling the spring with the parts 12 and 13, and this result may be accomplished in any desired manner. It will also be understood that the casing or jacket 34: as well as the jacket 17 may constitute an ornamental dea vice for giving a neat and finished appearance to the entire coupling unit and also prevent to a degree, the collection of dust, dirt and the like within the windings of the springs.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, I have shown another slight modification, wherein the apertured portions 12 and 13 of theparts 12 and 13 are extended at right angles to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, to provide for a. definite manner of coupling said parts and straps or other members. In other words, in the assembled device, the apertured portions of the parts 12 and 13 in Fig. 7 extend in parallel relation, whereas in the other figures, said plates extend in a common longitudinal line.

It will be seen from a consideration of the several forms of construction shown, that the distinctive feature of my invention resides in the coupling of two parts or members together in such manner as to permit rel ative movement of said parts in fan-like fashion from anaxial point, which may be fixed by a pivotal connection of said parts, or by the central portion of a coil spring employed for controlling the relative movement of said parts, said spring having pin ends in con nection with which said parts are coupled, said spring normally serving to retain the parts in an adjacent or abutting relation.

It will also be apparent that the separate parts will be provided with suitable means whereby garment parts, body parts, straps or the like may be coupled therewith in the many uses to which the device may be aplied. 7

It will also be understood that while I have shown certain structural details for carrying my invention into effect, and have indicated one use of my invention, that I am not necessarily limited in these respects, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A coupling device comprising two parts with which independent body members are adapted to be coupled, and a coil spring, the end portions of which cooperate with said parts and normally serving to maintain the same in adjacent relation, said spring permitting of the separation of said parts, and body members in fan-like fashion under the tension of said spring, means for limiting the relative movement of said parts, said means comprising a hollow body encircling said coil spring, and means for pivotally coupling said parts together.

2. A coupling of the class described comprising a coil spring, the end portions of said spring being crossed and :rtended in substantially parallel relation. coupling parts having tubular portions in which the ends of said spring are movably mounted normally maintaining said parts in abutting relation and permitting the separation of said parts in fan-like fashion in the increased tension of said coil spring.

3. A coupling of the class described comprising a coil spring, the end portions of said spring being crossed and extended in substantially parallel relation, coupling parts having tubular portions in which the ends of said spring are movably mounted normally maint-aining said parts in abutting relation and permitting the separation of said parts in fan-like fashion in the increased tension'of said coil spring, and means for preventing the displacement of said parts from said spring.

4. A coupling device comprising two pivotally coupled parts including projecting members arranged in common alinement and with which independent body parts are adapted to be coupled. and a coil spring arranged at the pivot of said parts and the end portions of which extend onto and cooperate with said members at points beyond said pivot and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said members in abutting relation.

5. A coupling device comprising two pivotally coupled parts including projecting members arranged in common alinement and with which independent body parts are adapted to be coupled, a coil spring arranged at the pivot of said parts and the end portions of which extend onto and cooperate with said members at points beyond said pivot and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said members in abutting relation, and a hollow body encircling the coil of said spring and cooperating with the projecting ends thereof for limiting the separation of said members.

6. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts adapted to be arranged in common alinement, one end portion of each of said parts having offset and overlapping members, means for pivotally coupling said members to permit of t 1e movement of said parts toward and from each other, a coil spring arranged at the pivot f said parts and having projecting end portions ext-ending onto and engaging said parts and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said parts in abutting relation under the tension of said spring, permitting the separation of said parts under the increased tension of said spring.

7. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts adapted to be arranged in common alinement, one end por tion of each of said parts having offset and overlapping members, means for pivotally coupling said members to permit of the movement of said parts toward and from each other, a coil spring arranged at the pivot of said parts and having projecting end portions extending onto and engaging said parts and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said parts in abutting relation under the tension of said spring, permitting the separation of said parts under the increased tension of said spring, a cup-shaped sheet metal housing mounted on the pivot of said parts and encircling the coil of said spring, and the wall of the housing being apertured where the ends of the spring pass therethrough, permitting limited movement of said ends of the spring in the separation of said parts.

8. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts, one end portion of said parts being pivotally coupled, a coil spring having projecting end portions and engaging said parts in the pivoted end thereof and normally serving to maintain said parts in adjacent relation and permitting of the separation of said parts under the tension of said spring, said parts including tube-like hearings in which the ends of said spring are movably mounted.

9. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts, one end portion of said parts being pivotally coupled, a coil spring having projecting end portions and engaging said parts in the pivoted end thereof and normally serving to maintain said parts in adjacent relation and permitting of the separation ofsaid parts under the tension of said spring, said parts including tube-lilre hearings in which the ends of said spring are ,movably mounted, and a cap encircling said spring and cooperating with the projecting ends thereof to limit the separation of said parts.

10. A coupling of the class described com prising two sheet metal parts, one end portion of said parts being pivotally coupled, a coil spring having projecting end portions and engaging said parts in the pivoted end thereof and normally serving to maintain said parts in adjacent relation and permitting of t 1e separation of said parts under the tension of said spring, said parts including tube-like bearings in which the ends of said spring are movably mounted, and a cap encircling said spring and cooperating w'th the projecting ends thereof to limit the separation of said parts, said parts having elongated apertures permitting of the attachment of body members therewith.

11. A coupling of the class described comprising a'coil spring having projecting end portions arranged in crossed relation to maintain said projecting end portions in substan tially adjacent relationunder the tension of said spring and permitting the separation of said end portions under the increased tension of said spring, means whereby body members may be coupled with the end portions of said spring, and means encirclin said spring and cooperating with the projecting end portions thereof for limiting the separation of said end portions and last named means;

12. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts adapted to be arranged in common alinement, one end portion o1 each of said parts having offset and overlapping members, means for pivotally coupling said members to permit of the movement of said parts toward and from each other, a coil spring arranged at the pivot of said parts and having projecting end portions extending onto and engaging said parts and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said parts in abutting relation under the tension of said spring, permitting the separation of said parts under the increased ten sion of said spring, and a strap member mounted on each of said parts.

13. A coupling of the class described comprising two sheet metal parts adapted to be arranged in common alinement, one end portion of each of said parts having offset and overlapping members, means for pivotally coupling said members to permit of the movement of said parts toward and from each other, a coil spring arranged at the pivot of said parts and having projecting end portions extending onto and engaging said parts and normally serving to maintain adjacent edges of said parts in abutting relation under the tension of said spring, permitting the separation of said parts under the increased tension of said spring, a strap member mounted on each of said parts, and the free end of one ice 

